Television Network pulls too Catholic
show
By TED PARKS
Special to the National Catholic Reporter
The countrys largest Spanish-language television network has
pulled the only U.S.-made religious program for Hispanic Catholics from its
broadcast lineup -- in part, producers charge, because it was too
Catholic.
Though officials at Univisión refused to comment, the
shows producers also charge that their commitment to social justice
issues had little support at the network.
The Univisión network, based in Miami, pulled the show from
its lineup in late November and shifted it to its cable wing,
Galavisión. In a letter, the network said the move will give the show
access to Hispanic viewers across the entire country.
The program, called Nuestra Familia, features
documentaries probing life issues in light of the gospel, according
to producer Cecilia González. Los Angeles-based González has
contributed segments on socially oriented topics like teen pregnancy, religious
themes such as life and worship in multi-ethnic parishes, and Hispanic cultural
celebrations like the Day of the Dead.
According to Roberto Gutiérrez, who runs the company that
has produced the show since it first aired in 1983, the change is a
tremendous loss because it will restrict its audience to cable
subscribers only. Before the change, Gutiérrez said, the show was
available on multiple over-the-air channels as well as large cable systems.
Gutiérrez said that Univisión officials told him
they made the decision in part because they felt the program was too
identifiably Catholic.
Because Nuestra Familia features a Catholic
priest, the network ties it to one faith group, Gutiérrez said.
Given the increasing religious diversity of the Hispanic population in the
United States, he suggested, the network felt the program was too narrow in
terms of the audience it draws.
González said she also perceived a push to survive
within the television world behind Univisións decision.
Network officials, she said, do not believe that social critique is the way to
attract new viewers.
Poor and disenfranchised Latinos are no ones concern,
not the dominant societys and not that of Latinos who are in power,
González said. It is the sad truth.
Network officials declined requests for comment.
Nuestra Familia generally draws high marks from
industry observers. Ed Murray, president and CEO of the National Interfaith
Cable Coalition, praised the show for its intimate connection with what
Latino family life is all about.
As the most watched Spanish-language network in the United States,
Univisión is without peer in its ability to reach Hispanic
homes, said González. Formerly senior producer at
Univisións KMEX station in Los Angeles, González noted the
networks special influence on the huge Hispanic market in Southern
California.
Besides the broadcast network, Univisión owns 18 television
stations, with 11 in the biggest 15 Hispanic markets.
The shows producer was not notified of
Univisións decision until the day after the network had pulled the
show, he said. Producers did not have the chance to warn program staff
receiving viewer calls about the shows move, which Gutiérrez said
Univisión announced on the air during the last program Nov. 28.
A Nov. 23 letter from Univisións programming director
Otto M. Padrón said that the network is confident that this change
will help Nuestra Familia grow its audience numbers and secure a
more stable affiliate base.
Gutiérrez said that the decision included not only
Padrón, but Univisións president of entertainment Mario
Rodríguez and chief operating officer Henry Cisneros, mayor of San
Antonio from 1981-89 and secretary of HUD under the Clinton
administration from 1993-96.
Neither Rodríguez nor Cisneros was available for
questions.
Series contributor González expressed concern over the
venue shift because of the faithful viewing habits of U.S. Hispanics, whom she
described as more brand-loyal than any other consumer group. She
explained that a TV program comes to be identified very closely with its
network because viewers know where to find it.
Without costly promotion of the change, which neither the program
nor the network can provide, González said, switching carriers is
deadly.
While 65 to 75 percent of the programs funding is from
viewer donations, Gutiérrez said that Catholic Communication Campaign of
the United Catholic Conference had contributed toward the program every year
since 1981.
Ellen McLoskey, director of productions for Catholic Communication
Campaign, praised Nuestra Familia as a fine program,
adding that the bishops want to reach the Hispanic community.
The weekly show, Gutiérrez said, provided hope to its
viewers, many of whom are immigrants. Dealing with core facets of the immigrant
experience, he said, the program has provided spiritual guidance to people on
the margins looking for a way to better their life.
An English-language version of Nuestra Familia, called
Our Family, airs on the Odyssey Television Network Mondays at 10
a.m. EST and Thursdays at 3 a.m. EST.
National Catholic Reporter, December 24,
1999
|